Lukas Ruetz

After a brilliant start to the season in September and October, November brings us back down to earth with the autumnal high pressure - as reported by the WeatherBlog. On the sunny side, the snow cover bubbled out again right up to the top, while on the shady side, faceted weak layers formed in this constellation of settled but thin old snow cover and persistent fine weather.

The first online ski touring summit full of information, tips and tricks for ski touring will take place in November. Host Frank Allgäuer has brought together a number of well-known faces from the scene, conducted interviews, recorded talks and extracted the best to offer a five-day online event from November 23 - 27.

The Avalanche Warning Service Tyrol offers its newsletter function via various channels. It's best to register now to stay up to date! The daily avalanche report is standard reading every evening to determine the next destination in the snow and to carry out appropriate risk management on site.

The vastness of the internet is not only full of funny cat and dog videos, but often also good instructional videos on the subject of winter sports. Here is a compilation of videos about snow and avalanches, with recommendations from the snow rummager.

Avalanche warning products often only refer to the "classic spring situation". But what are the "non-classical spring situations"? This time it's about the three non-classical of the four different snowpack scenarios in spring.

Avalanche warning products often only refer to the "classic spring situation". But what are the "non-classical" spring situations? There are three of them, which we will discuss in more detail in the next SnowFlurry. But to start with, let's look at the most common of the four different snow cover scenarios in spring.

In February, it rained several times up to high altitudes. The WeatherBlog has reported on the warm western weather several times. However, especially in the higher areas, the rain only reduces the snow depth, but usually increases the amount or mass of snow.

The Euregio Avalanche Report has brought some innovations to the world of avalanche warnings since 2018/19. These include the function of highlighting or dimming areas with a certain avalanche problem - perfect for getting a quick overview of weak layers in old snow.

A built-up, loose snow cover from the ground to the snow surface is a product of prolonged periods of fine weather in early and mid-winter. This snow, known as nap powder, forms a weak layer that must be taken seriously as soon as it has been snowed in. This is currently the case in wind-protected and little-traveled W-N-E slopes at high altitudes.

Patrick Nairz has been an avalanche forecaster for the avalanche warning service in Tyrol for over 20 years and is a well-known face in the ski touring scene. Schneestöberer spoke to him about the 5 avalanche problems, his career, his most important contributions to avalanche prevention and about hunting for crusts in the snowpack.

The Working Group of Austrian Avalanche Warning Services has published its seasonal report for winter 2018/19. As always, the report not only contains statistical evaluations of the past avalanche winter, but also many detailed and impressively illustrated analyses of specific accidental avalanches. In addition to the LWDs of the Austrian federal states, the SLF and the LWD South Tyrol are also represented with guest contributions.

The snow surface has taken a turn for the worse again in terms of skiing. After a Christmas season blessed with powder and good weather, the crowds, wind and sun have left their mark. That's why we'd better get back to a snow profile than skiing.